Mold and MRSA close courtrooms

LOUISVILLE, KY — Two Jefferson County courtrooms were closed in as many weeks due to mold contamination and the presence of infectious bacteria, according to the Courier-Journal.

Courtrooms 302 and 310 in the Hall of Justice were closed following two incidents where prosecutors contracted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the story stated.

According to the story, there was food residue leaking down a wall and food stains in the carpet, and although many courthouse workers have fallen ill in recent years, no correlations between indoor environment quality and employee health were drawn until now.

Jefferson District Judge Sean Delahanty said: "We need to do a better job disinfecting the building."

Courtroom 302 was reopened late last week after city maintenance workers cleaned the area, removed mold contamination and shampooed the carpets, the story noted.

Courtroom 310 will remain closed during the remediation process because of what officials are calling "an unacceptable smell," the story added.

Mold forces employees out of building

NASSAU, Bahamas — Employees in the Ministry of Education building, which is also occupied by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, walked off the job yesterday in protest of an ongoing mold problem, according to The Nassau Guardian.

Some employees claim the mold problem is continually getting worse and contamination is now clearly visible on the ceiling of the building, the story stated.

President of the Bahamas Public Services Union John Pinder said: "The union was concerned with the fact that the mold was making a number of the members sick. The ministry has agreed that all persons who suffer any respiratory or any illnesses as a result of the mold will be relocated immediately."

According to the story, the most difficult task will be moving all 500 employees out of the building to temporary work sites to complete the necessary work.

In addition to hiring a contractor to completely remediate the mold, the owner of the building, the National Insurance Board (NIB), will spend $3 million to replace the malfunctioning heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the story noted.

At least seven women who were pregnant at some point since the Ministry of Education relocated to the building in 2003 said their children have asthma-related problems believed to be caused by the mold, the story added.

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